New firm to take over city's legal services

CLOVIS — When Jared Morris first came to eastern New Mexico just after the turn of the century, he’d probably never heard of Dave Richards.

Now, he’s a few months away from filling his shoes.

The firm of Harmon, Morris and Barnett agreed Thursday to take over as the city’s legal services provider on July 1, when Richards plans to retire after 35 years in the position.

The firm — comprised of Morris, Tye Harmon and Kameron and Hollie Barnett — designated Morris as city attorney.

The plan is for the contract to operate the same way under Harmon, Morris and Barnett as it does under Greig and Richards. At every city function requiring counsel, Richards is present as city attorney with rare relief efforts by Hal Greig. Morris will serve in the position, but Harmon or either Barnett could fill in when needed.

Morris, a native of Albuquerque, first came to the area as an undergraduate student at Eastern New Mexico University in 2000. Four years later, he went back to Albuquerque to go to law school at the University of New Mexico, and took a job as a prosecutor with the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s office in 2009.

Four years later, he entered private practice.

Mayor David Lansford half-jokingly told Morris the biggest job of a city attorney is to keep the commission and staff out of legal trouble. But Morris knows plenty more is involved.

“I understand it’s going to be a steep learning curve,” Morris said, noting he would make every effort to shadow Richards over the next two-plus months. The first opportunity came when he stayed for the remainder of the meeting; his fellow attorneys immediately departed, much like any audience member whose business at the meeting had concluded.

Lansford said he’s not planning on throwing away Richards’ cell phone number, but said, “I can’t think of anybody better to replace him than your firm.”

The city’s contract for legal services is in the first year of a four-year deal, with three one-year renewal options remaining. The contract rate of $200 per hour will remain, which City Manager Justin Howalt said was a good deal for the city as the market rate is now $250 per hour.

In other business at the Thursday meeting:

• The commission appointed former municipal judge Jan Garrett as alternate judge.

Garrett retired April 4 after 17 years in the position, and Vicki Kelley was appointed as municipal judge. Kelley was appointed as alternate judge to Garrett in 2002, after the two finished 1-2 in the municipal judge election.

Kelley will serve in the role until the March 3, 2020, election, when the final two years of the term will be on the ballot. Kelley, who has worked at the municipal court for 37 years, has said she intends to run for that portion of the term as well.

• A budget transfer of $100,000 was approved for a new sewerline camera for the public works department. Public Works Director Clint Bunch said the money was given to the department to purchase a new dump truck. He said the department still needs the truck, but the camera has since become a higher priority.

• The commission approved a one-year renewal with Global Spectrum for management of the Clovis Civic Center. The company has operated the center since 2005.

• A budget transfer of $239,000 was approved to purchase equipment, merchandise and inventory from Real Golf at Colonial Park Golf Course.

The items will be used by Touchstone Golf, which takes over operations at the course May 1. Howalt said a third-party appraisal of the equipment showed it to be more cost-efficient than looking for new or used equipment off-site.

A small portion of the equipment was previously city-owned and contractually became the property of Real Golf over eight years of operation, but Howalt said almost all of the equipment in question was replaced by Real Golf during its nearly eight years of management.

• The commission approved a $27,543.37 budget transfer to make improvements at Veterans’ Park in conjunction with the city’s designation as one of five 2019 Great American Defense Communities. The money will go toward brushed aluminum entryway signage, stucco work and upgrades to the brick and cinder around the F111 aircraft at the park.

There will be a ceremonial ribbon cutting 3 p.m. Wednesday at the park.

• Parks and Recreation Director Mark Dayhoff updated commissioners on the prior weekend’s Great American Cleanup.

He said there were 100 volunteers at the beginning, and those who helped out collected 169 bags of trash. The top team picked up 47 bags despite having just four members.

For the weekend, with dumping fees waived, the landfill took in 148.89 tons of trash and 89 tires.

• A proclamation was read for national day of prayer, to be held noon Thursday in front of the Curry County Courthouse.

Phillip Landers with Christian Believers said prayer booths would be set up starting at 6 a.m. Thursday at the group’s building for anybody who couldn’t make the event or just wanted another chance for a prayer to be heard.

• The next meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. May 2 at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library.